FoodNet

A manual of home-making

1919

Page 55

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
In general, a typical living-room for general family use should include a fireplace^ some form of lounge, Ixjokshelves, a generous table with lamp, a place to write, and plenty of comfortable chairs. A piano or victrola, a sewing-table, small or folding tables that can be moved around to serve a cup of tea or for games and the likt% rnay also be needed. Added to these are a number of small furnishings that should iie thoughtfully selected to complete the comfort of the occupants as the room is used. Footstools or hassocks, a dictionary-stand, lamps and candle- sticks, a waste-l>asket, a neat wooci-box or Ijasket, a few pillows, a vavse or two for fiowers^ a clocks are all wort liy adjuncts to the family room. A place should also be provided for the quick dis- posal of transient paraphernalia, such as father's newspaper, mother's mending, and the children-s toys. The artificial lighting of the room should be adjusted to the spaces that are used at night. A general diffitsion of light over the whole space can be provided most simply by some central form of ceiling hght. In addition to this, lamps will be needed for reading or close w^ork. The soft light of candles or the open fire are sufficient when t he room is used only for conversation. The character of a dining-room should al>ove all be cheerful. Eastern windows admitting the morning sun, light colors on the walls, plants or flowers, arc a real aid to good digestion. 98 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING lUWIH Iwiitw** tiOt roR. t'lAHT* in 1 <::^ i a TABl.ti' D J u 1 !— . I 1 All>t BOA^ "1 1 Kali. BU ^n CHur«i MIM HAU* Fia. 33, — Top, an effective ai>«3 logical an-anicoment of furniture in a square dioing-room* Bottum* a well-planBed bedroom showinK a acr\'ici*jible arrangement of dresidng and sleeping equipment, with plenty of free apaee for passage. HOME FURNISHING 99 In contrast to the living-room, the dining-room has but one functioD and therefore hut one center of interest. The dec- oration and furnishinp; of thi.s room should focus on the idea of the table in use. A dining-tahle capable of enlargement, a ryg perhaps, chairs, a serviog-table, and a place to keep the dishes, against an inteiestiugly papered or paneled back- ground, constitute the real requirernents of the dining-rooni. Anything provided in addition to tliis h purely by way of decora- tion which implie?^ that the added features must enhance the general appearance. Clean linen — white, cream, or gray — simple forms of knives, forks, and spoons, china with refined outhne.s and restrained decorations, furnish a dining-room with more distinction than an ahundance of ornate furnishing.